The severe shortage of dentists and the distance many Arizonans travel to access the limited care available call for a change in the delivery model of oral healthcare.

Millions of Arizonans struggle to access the dental care they need to lead healthy, productive lives. People go without care because they cannot afford it, cannot find a dentist who will take their insurance, cannot get to the dentist during weekday working hours, or live in an area where there is a shortage of dentists.

To address this problem, Arizona urgently needs to increase access to quality dental care that does not create additional government programs and cost. A proposal submitted to the Legislature would initiate legislation to authorize use of midlevel dental providers, known as dental therapists, who can help expand opportunities to efficiently and effectively serve patients and increase dentists’ revenue.

Dental therapists are similar to physician assistants or nurse practitioners on medical teams. They receive rigorous training in routine preventive and restorative procedures, such as filling cavities and placing stainless steel crowns. When dental therapists provide routine dental care, dentists can focus on more complicated procedures.

Current gaps in care are costly for the state. When people cannot get dental care, they sometimes visit emergency rooms for relief of their symptoms—an expensive and inefficient use of limited health care dollars. A lack of access to dental care especially affects low-income families, children covered by Medicaid, the elderly, people with disabilities, American Indians, and those living in rural communities.

Every one of Arizona’s 15 counties has at least some portion designated as a dental health professional shortage area.

I am connected to the communities in which I serve.

I make tele-dentistry more viable.

Dental therapists are lower cost providers, so they can help make dental practices more efficient and cost effective. Studies show that dentists and dental practices who employ dental therapists can serve more patients while maintaining or improving their overall income. Studies show that dentists and dental practices who use dental therapists serve more patients while maintaining or improving their bottom line.

Even more, dental therapists can help dental practices stretch Medicaid payments further, allowing them to provide treatment for more patients with the same resources.

In Alaska, dental therapists have increased access to care for 45,000 people living in 80 rural communities.

Arizona Coalition

Dental Care for AZ is a group of organizations united in support of a proposal before the state Legislature that would authorize use of dental therapists in Arizona, eliminate unnecessary government regulation of the dental delivery system, and increase access to dental care for vulnerable populations.